USS Bordelon (DD-881)

USS "Bordelon" (DD/DDR-881) was a Sclass|Gearing|destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Marine Staff Sergeant William J. Bordelon (1920–1943), who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Battle of Tarawa.

"Bordelon" was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corporation at Orange, Texas on 9 September 1944, launched on 3 March 1945 by Mrs. W. J. Bordelon, the mother of Staff Sergeant Bordelon and commissioned on 5 June 1945. "Bordelon" operated as a part of the occupation force in Japan until March 1946 then alternated operations along the east coast and in the Caribbean with the 2nd Fleet with deployments to the Mediterranean with the 6th Fleet.

On 14 September 1976, while refueling alongside USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|6, the ships came together and collided. "Bordelon"'s port bow and some of the superstructure were damaged and the main mast snapped and fell on the signal shack, injuring some of the handling team.

The USS|Mount Baker|AE-34|6 was also involved with the rescue of the "Bordelon", by escorting her to a ammunition depot where The "Mount Baker"'s EOD team off-loaded her entire cargo of ammunition while providing electric and water services. After this second crash with the "John F. Kennedy" with a destroyer, whenever the "Mount Baker" came anywhere near the "Kennedy" a special watch was set to keep a good eye on her, having already experienced the crash with the USS|Belknap|CG-26|2 and the "Kennedy" and helping in that incident also.

Due to the damage to the superstructure and electronics and the age and condition of the hull, "Bordelon" was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 February 1977, transferred to Iran in July 1977 and cannibalized for spare parts.

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/881.htm navsource.org: USS "Bordelon"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd881txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Bordelon"]
* [http://ussbordelon.freeyellow.com/ Unofficial USS "Bordelon" website]